County loses longtime Rep. Murray Ryan

Husband, father, veteran, miner — Murray Ryan was many things throughout his 94 years. But here, where Ryan spent most of his life, the longtime legislator will always be remembered as a leader.

Ryan died Saturday, surrounded by family and friends who wanted one last moment, one last laugh with the man who had given so many years of his life in service to the community he loved. Ryan represented District 38, which includes much of Grant County, in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1969 to 1998. In the wake of his death, stories paint a portrait of a man quick to laugh and quick to offer a helping hand, unconditional of party or position.

“He loved this community. He loved New Mexico,” said Ryan’s daughter Kathleen Ryan on Sunday. “He loved that we are multicultural, multilingual. He loved the diversity and did not know a stranger. I will never forget his complete devotion and love for Grant County.”

In just his last three years at the Roundhouse, Ryan expressed his strong support of some of Grant County’s landmark institutions, sponsoring bills to allocate $300,000 to Western New Mexico University for the continuation of the school’s occupational therapy and nursing programs as well as $125,000 for emergency repairs to Fort Bayard Medical Center. Aside from the largest institutions, Murray’s résumé also included bills supporting smaller projects in Grant County, like the emergency medical services facility in San Lorenzo and streetlight replacements in Silver City.

Given Ryan’s 29 years in the Capitol, he worked with many waves of elected officials. Family members and elected officials on both sides the aisle say he was comfortable reaching across it.

“He did not represent a political party. He represented issues,” Kathleen said. “He didn’t believe in divisive politics. He voted his conscience and the well-being of his constituents.”

District 28 Sen. Howie Morales said that, though he never worked alongside Ryan in Santa Fe, he was inspired by the respect he saw Murray show fellow legislators no matter which party they represented.

“He was a true gentleman,” Morales said. “He held strong to his values, but he had the gift of respecting every individual, whether he agreed with them or not. That is so rare now in politics, with everything being taken so personally.”

District 35 Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith worked in the opposite house of the Legislature as well as a different party from the time Smith took his seat representing Dona Ana, Luna and Hidalgo counties in 1989 through Ryan’s retirement in 1996. But Smith knew Ryan longer than most. Both Smith’s and Ryan’s parents worked in the liquor business and Smith recalled meeting Ryan on deliveries when he was in the fourth grade. So, when Smith headed to Santa Fe he turned to Ryan for guidance.

“I always trusted him,” Smith said. “We were in different parties, but when I was first elected and didn’t know some of the legislation, Murray was who I would always turn to. He would never tell me which way to vote, but give me both sides of the issue and let me make up my own mind.”

Smith said it was Ryan’s unwavering stance on issues, perhaps, that impressed him most.

“Murray was an extremely determined individual,” Smith said. “No one was going to intimidate him by any means as sometimes happens at the Legislature. He did not waffle at all in his beliefs and convictions. People always think legislators are easily persuaded by different groups up there, but Murray did his own thing. He’s one of those who restores your faith in government. The state’s better because of Murray Ryans in the world.”

Even after he retired from the House of Representatives, Ryan stayed active in the political arena, working closely with Rep. Dianne Hamilton — who was elected following Ryan’s retirement in 1999 and held the seat until just this past year, when Rebecca Dow was elected to it.

“Murray Ryan’s passing marks the end of an era,” Hamilton wrote in a statement. “Murray was in the state Legislature when lawmakers behaved like ladies and gentlemen. What made Murray such a wonderful leader is the fact that he never forgot what was really important — his wife and family. My family has loved the Ryan family for more than 40 years. This is a difficult personal loss, as well as a loss for New Mexico.”

In addition to working with Hamilton, Ryan kept busy over the years mentoring younger legislators, like Democrat Morales and newly elected Republican Rep. Rebecca Dow.

Dow will take over the District 38 seat at this upcoming legislative session. To ready herself for the post, she acquainted herself closely with Ryan, speaking with him about the responsibilities of the position as recently as Friday.

“He had so much wisdom and experience,” Dow said. “The biggest thing he would tell me is not to get tied up in the politics. Grant County is full of hardworking citizens. He has a room in his house of all of his accomplishments. When I would talk to him about his accomplishments, he never mentioned a bill. He was most proud of listening, of cooperating.”

While he prided himself in a bipartisan approach, Ryan didn’t mind rooting on his team. He publicly endorsed Dow this election as a key supporter.

“He told me I had better get myself to the Roundhouse,” she said. “He said, ‘I want Republicans in that seat for 50 years and if you win, we will be.’”

Aside from his role as legislator, Ryan left behind fond memories with family and friends.

“Minus all the political stuff, people will remember a heart of gold,” said Judi Bush, one of Murray’s granddaughters. “I think if you asked all of us, we would all say we were his favorite. That’s how he made you feel. And just like with us, he made everyone feel special — he would remember your wife’s name, if your kids were doing well, where you were working.”

Several of Ryan’s loved ones spoke of his wit and love of laughter.

“Who am I going to talk to now about politics? Who am I going to joke with and poke fun of the day-to-day?” his daughter Kathleen asked. “He had that Irish, mischievous temperament. He was a mischievous little boy and that never went away as a man, no matter his age. Luckily, he was completely lucid until his very last sentence and it was full of that humor.”

Herbie Marsden, who worked under Ryan during his long career as a safety officer at the Chino Mine under Kennecott, also spoke of Ryan’s good humor, even during disagreements.

“We used to laugh and joke a lot,” Marsden said of Ryan, who would begin every day with a stack of newspapers. “You know, being a Democrat and he a Republican, there were plenty of things we could disagree about, but we did it with a smile.”

“My father Henry and Uncle Luis “Lefty” Morales may have not had much materially growing up, but were blessed to have you as their little league coach who looked beyond the side of town they were from and helped provide them with an opportunity to stay active and experience your love,” Morales wrote in a public Facebook post. “To this day, they still speak of the impact you made on their lives, as do I.”

Wrapped up in the package that was Murray Ryan was his life as a World War II veteran. Ryan fought in Germany during the war and came back “conflicted” according to Kathleen as to his experiences there.

“He had very complex relationships with being a veteran,” she said. “He felt like he hadn’t given enough. He saw everyone he knew who didn’t come home and felt he could have done more.”

Due to that, Kathleen said Ryan’s funeral will have a folded American flag on the casket but not be a full military funeral.

A public viewing for Ryan will be held at Baca’s Funeral Chapels on Tuesday at 5 p.m. A prayer vigil and rosary will follow at 6 p.m. The funeral liturgy will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Ryan will then be buried at Memory Lane Cemetery. Ryan’s granddaughter Judi Bush said she was happy that Ryan was going to meet her grandma, Ryan’s wife, Marion, who died previously.

Ryan is survived by his son Murray and daughter-in-law Debbie, daughter Kathleen, daughter Robin, and his son Kerry and daughter-in-law Heather. He is also survived by six grandchildren and their spouses, and 11 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Kevin Ryan Memorial Scholarship fund at the University of New Mexico, the American Cancer Society, the Murray Ryan Visitor Center or a charity of one’s choice.